Quick answer: Start with a normal restart for a temporary fault. Use a Wi-Fi reset when the app or router changed. Use a factory reset only when troubleshooting fails, you no longer have the device password, or Roborock’s support path calls for it. A factory reset can remove Wi-Fi, schedules, cleaning history, and maps.
Choose the right reset
| Problem | Least destructive action | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Robot is unresponsive but still powered | Normal restart | Temporary operating state is cleared; settings should remain. |
| New router, changed password, or app cannot reconnect | Reset Wi-Fi and add the robot again | Network connection is removed; the rest of the device is not necessarily reset. |
| Forgotten device credentials or persistent malfunction | Factory reset using the exact manual | Configuration, Wi-Fi, schedules, and maps may be removed. |
Before any factory reset
- Record the model, Wi-Fi name, map names, rooms, no-go zones, schedules, cleaning preferences, and dock settings.
- Try a normal restart and update the app or firmware only if the robot has stable power and a confirmed connection.
- Verify you are pressing a reset control, not a microphone, screw point, dustbin latch, or other opening.
- Charge the robot or place it on its dock. Do not reset it during an interrupted cleaning or update.
Restart a Roborock first
A normal restart is the right first move when the robot freezes, reports a temporary error, or behaves oddly after a failed run. Use the power procedure printed for the exact model instead of a generic internet button combination. Allow the robot to boot fully, then test charging, a short clean, and the app before escalating.
If it immediately repeats a sensor, brush, charging, or water-flow error, clean the relevant part before trying another reset. See how to clean a Roborock.
Reset only the Wi-Fi when networking changed
Wi-Fi reset is usually the correct route after replacing a router, changing the network password, moving the robot, or leaving it stuck in connection mode. Current Roborock manuals commonly ask you to open the top cover, locate the Wi-Fi indicator, then use that model’s button combination until the robot announces that Wi-Fi is resetting. The app then adds the robot as a new device.
Do not assume the same buttons apply across the Q5, Q7, S-series, Qrevo, or Saros families. Follow our Wi-Fi connection guide after the indicator enters pairing mode.
Factory reset: use the exact model manual
Roborock’s published factory-reset instructions for an older covered model use a home-button hold and a recessed reset control, but that sequence is not a universal Roborock rule. The company says factory restoration disconnects Wi-Fi and removes device settings, cleaning logs, and maps on that model. Newer manuals can use a different reset location or button combination.
For a Q5, Q7, Qrevo, or Saros, open Roborock Support, select the exact family, and follow its manual. If the reset is for a warranty or repair case, ask support whether they want a diagnostic record before you wipe configuration.
Set the robot up after reset
- Reconnect it to the supported 2.4 GHz home Wi-Fi network.
- Add it in the current Roborock app and wait for initialization to finish.
- Check for a firmware update only after the robot is stable and charged.
- Rebuild maps, rooms, no-go zones, carpet settings, schedules, and voice integrations.
- Run one supervised clean to confirm dock return, bin emptying where applicable, and mopping behavior.
When to stop and contact support
Stop repeated factory resets if the robot will not power on, heats abnormally, has liquid in the electronics, cannot charge after clean contacts and a verified outlet, or repeats the same hardware alert immediately. A reset cannot repair a damaged battery, dock, sensor, pump, or motor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reset a Roborock?
First decide whether the problem needs a normal restart, a Wi-Fi reset, or a factory reset. Use the exact instructions for the robot model; button combinations and reset controls vary across Roborock families.
Does factory resetting a Roborock delete the map?
It can. Roborock’s factory-reset guidance says settings, cleaning logs, and maps are removed on the covered model. Save important settings and consult the exact model manual before factory reset.
How do I reset a Roborock Q5?
Use the Q5-series manual for its specific reset procedure rather than copying an S5, Q7, or newer-model sequence. Confirm the model label and whether you need Wi-Fi reset or full factory reset first.
Will a Roborock factory reset disconnect Wi-Fi?
Yes. Roborock says factory restoration disconnects Wi-Fi on the model covered by its support article, so you must add the robot again afterward.